Asteroid impacts have arguably killed off more species than almost any other type of disaster since life began on Earth. The most famous of these, the Chicxulub impactor, killed the dinosaurs about 65 million years ago, along with 76% of all species on the planet at the time. But that was by no means the worst disaster; as far as we can tell, it wasn’t even the biggest asteroid. That title currently goes to the Vredefort crater in South Africa. Coming in at over 300 kilometers wide, it was the largest asteroid crater so far found, at least when it was formed about 2 billion years ago. But that might be about to change if a theory from Andrew Glikson and Tony Yeates of New South Wales is correct. They have found what they believe to be the biggest impact crater on Earth since the Late Heavy Bombardment in their own Australian province of New South Wales, and they think it might have caused one of the other five mass extinction events.
Space News & Blog Articles
No Surprise, July 2023 Was the Hottest Month on Record Since 1880
In case you missed it, the weather’s been hot. From warmer-than-usual temperatures in northern climes to melting ice sheets in the polar regions, July 2023 was a record-breaking month. That’s not just some random perception. NASA has been keeping records and the agency confirms what most of us have observed for ourselves. It was a warm one.
Neptune's clouds have vanished, and the sun may be to blame (video)
Thanks to the sun's 11-year-long cycle, Neptune might be systematically purged of its clouds.
Maui satellite photo shows full scale of deadliest US fire in more than a century
The Landsat 8 satellite captured the deadly flames that burned through the town of Lahaina in Hawaii and killed at least 99 people.
Take an interstellar cruise into the cosmos in new limited series 'The Space Between' (exclusive)
An exclusive first peek at Boom! Studios' new sci-fi limited series, 'The Space Between.'
This Sure Looks Like the Movements of a Glacier Across Ancient Mars
It is a scientific certainty that Mars was once a much different place, with a denser atmosphere, warmer temperatures, and where water once flowed. Evidence of this past is preserved in countless surface features, ranging from river channels and alluvial deposits to lakebeds. However, roughly 4 billion years ago, the planet began to change into what we see today, an extremely cold and desiccated environment. Between all that, it is possible Mars experienced glacial and interglacial periods, which is evidenced by images like the one taken by the NASA Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) shown above.
Satellites watch wildfires rage across Canadian northwest (photos)
Satellite images reveal the scope of devastating wildfires in the Canadian northwest where an entire capital city had to be evacuated due to approaching flames.
Russia's Luna-25 moon lander snaps 1st photo of lunar surface
Luna-25, Russia's first moon mission since 1976, has snapped its first detailed photo of the lunar surface.
James Webb Space Telescope confirms 'Maisie's galaxy' is one of the earliest ever seen
The universe's age when Maisie's galaxy was seen by the James Webb Space Telescope has been confirmed, proving that this realm is one of the earliest galaxies ever observed.
Powerful helium star could finally reveal secrets about highly magnetic stellar corpses
A newly discovered, highly magnetic and massive helium star could explain how magnetars, stellar corpses with the universe's strongest magnetic fields, are born.
Astronomers Find Strange Star Is a Powerful Magnet
Astronomers have found a star that has a magnetic field rivaling the strongest magnet humans have ever built — and it might explain the origin of highly magnetic cinders known as magnetars.
We Might Be Able to Measure Dark Energy Through the Milky Way's Collision With Andromeda
The Universe is expanding, and it’s doing so at an ever-increasing pace. Whether due to a dark energy field throughout the cosmos or due to a fundamental of spacetime itself, the cosmos is stretching the space between distant galaxies. But nearby galaxies, those part of our local group, are moving closer together. And how they are falling toward each other could tell us about the nature of cosmic expansion.
Watch SpaceX launch 21 Starlink satellites early Friday
SpaceX plans to launch 21 of its Starlink satellites to orbit early Friday (Aug. 18), and you can watch the liftoff live.
Starlink satellites soar from Florida, west coast launch slips to Friday
A Falcon 9 lifts off from Cape Canaveral on Aug. 16, carrying 22 Starlink satellites. Image: Adam Bernstein/Spaceflight Now.
A Falcon 9 lifted off from Cape Canaveral late Wednesday carrying 22 Starlink satellites but a launch from California scheduled for just hours later was delayed, dashing SpaceX’s plans for back-to-back launches for its broadband internet service.
Astronaut-artist Karen Nyberg unveils quilt portraits of first women to fly in space
The 50th woman to fly into space, Karen Nyberg has paid tribute to the first woman and first American woman to do so with a pair of original works celebrating the first 60 years of women in space.
India's Chandrayaan-3 moon lander successfully separates, prepares for Aug. 23 touchdown
India's Chandrayaan-3 lunar lander is a step closer to landing on the moon after separating Aug. 17 from the propulsion module that carried the mission to lunar orbit.
Perseid meteor shower 2023 lights up the sky in these gorgeous reader photos (gallery)
Gaze at some of our best 2023 Perseid meteor shower photo submissions from across the world.
Watch how 'Ahsoka' explores the bond between Jedi masters and apprentices in 'Star Wars' (video)
A new 'Ahsoka' featurette goes behind the scenes to delve into the connection between Jedi masters and their apprentices in the "Star Wars" universe.
Artemis II crew visit spacecraft
Video: 00:04:46
During Artemis I the European Service Module (ESM) surpassed expectations. Now, as we set our sights on Artemis II, the European Service Module is ready to once again serve as Orion’s primary power and propulsion component and keep the spacecraft at the right temperature and on course. And this time, with real astronauts on board.
A 142-year-old astronomy building was serendipitously unearthed in Michigan (photos)
The foundations of Michigan State University's first astronomy building recently came to light, showing a long history of telescope work in the Wolverine State.
